New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-04
n.c smpty rumor in the talk of speedy suspcn-
ss for the former assistant pastor Of St Stephens
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
NEW VIEW OF THE cAR-wINDow PROBLEM

new VIEW OF THE CAR-WINDOW PROBLEM
suGGEsTING THAT A PRIZE BE OFFERED FOR
FASTENER" THAT MAY BE UNFAsrENKD.
70 fhe Editor OF The Tribune
SIR your article the subject of the Car WINDOW
IN THE TRIBUNE OF July % you have given to the
oue,tion new and exceedingly interesting aspect The
question Is no longer who shall control the car window,
hut who can control It, Your proposition that the
ingenuity of American inventors should be stimulated
by tho offer Of prize OF one million OF dollars TO be
raised by people Of the United states Tor the produc
tlon of car window which can be put down when 1t is
up put up when 1t s down. 10 one which cannot fall
to receive universal approval
The trouble Is to get the money. 1t Is easy TO say
raised FROM the and women Of the United States,
but the men and of the United States have way
of holding their hard cash which is sometimes very
provoking when objects worthy of encourage
ment presented to them for instance the Bunker
Hill Monument the pedestal Of the Statue of Liberty
have suggestion to make this point which, think,
will the difficulty. No body OF men are more
deeply interested In railroads than the Knights of
Labor Let Mr. Powdery be induced the cannot fail to
see the fitness Of it, to lay an assessment on every
Knight OF Labor in the country OF "a cents per annum
(the of his last assessment cheerfuly and
universally concurred I'M and, the number OF Knights
Is about one Million shall have the amount required
In little than four years Meantime we need not
hesitate to offer the reward at once Tor not even the
mastery ingenuity of Ericsson himself could be counted
on to solve four years problem OF so inri'
cate and obscure to have baed tho persist
emit Of all inventors Of the world since the first
car constructed.
But after having thus provided for the creation OF
practicable window 1t pains me to lie obliged to
suggest that the whole difficulty. perhaps should
rather say the main difficulty Is not yet disposed OF We
want not only practical car window Iut more tnan
that practical oar window fastener. We have, IL Is
true Already plenty OF called e tna name
Every passenger Car in the country has, belle We.
different We do not want new car-wlnlow
taste 10
eli do that The misfortune Is that they DO nothing else
Now what we want is car window fastener wnion VIII
confident that much of the disrepute into which
the window has fallen account OF It's imputed
inherent In the car window itself, but to the quiet
obstruction nterposcd by that malignant LITTLE ntriv
ance the window fastener In me corner Ana Inc
power of obstruction of this Insignificant looking little
thing something bordering on the incredlole am OF
the opinion that not the keey motor ITSELF with ts
stand the slightest chance In contest with this seem
ipgy tring affair the carwind0w fastener Ana when
see the usually placid ana , ear vipde
until yelus stand out on his forehead ike wnipcors
and his countenance assumes an aspect or diabolca
ferocity the chvarous youth whose baed enueaVors
have upon him the frown OF the lady OF his adora
tiop sinking away with despair pantea on his features
and grim purpose of suicide lurking In the gloomy
depths of his lstrelcss eyes-i Imagine myself this
wicked little devil OF oar window fastener IN It's hding
place. laughing IN its sleeve at the wrecbdeness IN
which 1t has the power thus 10 Involve me race VI ~
propose. therefore, as amendment TO your prop.
ostion that there be offered second prize this time OF
ten millions Of dollars to be bestowed on the snccessiM
inventor of "a carwin dow fastener which shall possess
the property of unfastcnng as well as OF fastening tne
car window; and shall not require training OF more
than six months In school or applied neohaalcs 10
learn how to it. And propose that MI Powderiy
be requested TO lay assessment of 50 per annum upon
every Knight OF Labor in the country for the next two
years in order TO raise the money - ,,
r.,r vorl- Ano o 1897